View multiplexer for use with a viewing infrastructure and a method of operation thereof
View Patent ↗A view multiplexer, a viewing infrastructure and a method of multiplexing a view for use with a service application. In one embodiment, the viewing infrastructure includes a service application, a communications network coupled to the service application, a plurality of viewers coupled to the network and a view multiplexer coupled to both the service application and the communications network. A service coordinator of the view multiplexer simulates a single representative viewer from the plurality of viewers to the service application. A state collaborator, which is coupled to the service coordinator of the view multiplexer, provides a network state to the plurality of viewers.
1. A view multiplexer implemented on a computing device, for use with a service application, comprising:
a service coordinator configured to simulate a single representative viewer to said service application from a plurality of viewers, said service application configured to communicate with a single viewer; and
a state collaborator, coupled to said service coordinator, configured to automatically provide a network state of said service application to said plurality of viewers and said service application based on message types indicated by a low-level packet format, said low-level packet format employed by said plurality of viewers and independent of said service application.
2. The view multiplexer as recited in claim 1 wherein any one of said plurality of viewers is designated to change said network state.
3. The view multiplexer as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of viewers are configured to operate simultaneously.
4. The view multiplexer as recited in claim 1 wherein said service application includes one selected from the group consisting of:
a text editor,
a drawing program,
a jukebox,
an address book,
a calendar program,
a session manager,
an image viewer, and
a map program.
5. The view multiplexer as recited in claim 1 wherein said view multiplexer is located remotely from said plurality of viewers via a communications network and a change of said network state occurs at one of said plurality of viewers effectuating said change independent of a latency associated with said communications network.
6. The view multiplexer as recited in claim 1 wherein said service coordinator and said state collaborator are configured to employ a protocol independent of said service application to simulate said single representative viewer and provide said network state.
7. The view multiplexer as recited in claim 1 wherein said service application is a partitioned application and said view multiplexer is coupled to a service proxy associated with at least one of said plurality of viewers, said service proxy including a portion of said partitioned service application configured to manage user interface therewith.
8. The view multiplexer as recited in claim 1 wherein said message types are requests and replies, wherein said requests are READ, WRITE and DELEGATE and said replies are REPLY, ACKNOWLEDGE and NONACKNOWLEDGE.
9. A method of multiplexing a view for use with a service application comprising:
coordinating a plurality of viewers to simulate a single representative viewer to said service application, said service application configured to communicate with a single viewer; and
automatically collaborating a network state of said service application to said plurality of viewers and said service application, said coordinating and collaborating based on message types indicated by a low-level packet format employed by said plurality of viewers and independent of said service application.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein any one of said plurality of viewers is designated to change said network state.
11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said plurality of viewers are operated simultaneously.
12. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said service application includes one selected from the group consisting of:
a text editor,
a drawing program,
a jukebox,
an address book,
a calendar program,
a session manager,
an image viewer, and
a map program.
13. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said automatically collaborating said network state includes propagating a change of said network state regardless if said change has been saved.
14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said message types are requests and replies, wherein said requests are READ, WRITE and DELEGATE and said replies are REPLY, ACKNOWLEDGE and NONACKNOWLEDGE.
15. A viewing infrastructure, comprising:
a service application implemented on a computing device;
a communications network coupled to said service application;
a plurality of viewers coupled to said network;
a computer implemented view multiplexer coupled to said service application and said communications network, including:
a service coordinator configured to simulate a single representative viewer to said service application from said plurality of viewers, said service application configured to communicate with a single viewer, and
a state collaborator, coupled to said service coordinator, that automatically provides a network state of said service application to said plurality of viewers and said service application based on message types indicated by a low-level packet format, said low-level packet format employed by said plurality of viewers and independent of said service application.
16. The viewing infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein any one of said plurality of viewers is designated to change said network state.
17. The viewing infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of viewers are operated simultaneously.
18. The viewing infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said service application includes one selected from the group consisting of:
a text editor,
a drawing program,
a jukebox,
an address book,
a calendar program,
a session manager,
an image viewer, and
a map program.
19. The viewing infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said view multiplexer is located remotely from said plurality of viewers via a communications network and a change of said network state occurs at one of said plurality of viewers effectuating said change independent of a latency associated with said communications network.
20. The viewing infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said service coordinator and said state collaborator are configured to employ a protocol independent of said service application to simulate said single representative viewer and provide said network state.
21. The viewing infrastructure as recited in claim 15 further comprising a service proxy associated with each of said plurality of viewers, wherein said service application is a partitioned application and each of said service proxy includes a portion of said partitioned service application configured to manage user interface therewith.